Mackay a hotspot for Type 2 diabetes

Pam has been at the Daily Mercury since March 2013 and has also worked as a journalist in Batemans Bay and Wellington both in NSW. And yes, that does make her a Blues supporter. Growing up she moved around different places including Sydney, Moree, Wollongong and lived for about two years as a high school student on a small island in Micronesia called Pohnpei. Pam loves water sports, including SCUBA diving, snorkelling and kayaking but her awful balance means she’ll never touch a surf board. Ever...

"It's not an epidemic. It's not even a pandemic, it's like a tsunami," she said.

Diabetics made up about 8% of Mackay's population last financial year and 62% of the city's adults were overweight or obese, according to the Hospital and Health Services and Medicare Local statistics.

The number of diabetics is expected to double in the next 15 to 20 years, Ms Lynch said.

What's worse is that half of people with diabetes don't know they have it.

Ms Lynch said diabetes was a problem in Mackay because of local industries.

"Because of the mines and railway and all those types of shiftwork, the lifestyle and the money that goes with the job I think skews out those statistics."

She said a lack of physical activity and poor diets were to blame. Patients with Type 2 diabetes have a high amount of sugar in their blood because their bodies can't process it properly.

"Insulin is like a carrier," Ms Lynch said.

"It picks up the sugar and takes it to the cells. But, insulin can't go through layers of fat and takes it back (to the blood)."

Without taking action, high blood sugar level sufferers are at risk of damage to their eyes, heart, kidneys and feet.

Diabetes Queensland is bringing a free training session to Mackay to teach volunteers how to deliver an educational program aimed at combating the growing problem.

The next free volunteer training session for the program, Know the Score, is scheduled for next month.

Healthy lifestyle: Exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or for 60 minutes to lose weight

Healthy diet: Minimal sugar, low in fat, less processed, lots of salad and vegetables and at least two pieces of fruit

Manage blood pressure

Don't smoke

Regular check-ups with a doctor, including blood glucose tests.

FAST FACTS:

It's not just sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels, Mackay dietician and diabetes educator Fiona Lynch says. Carbohydrates can also play a part and it is important for patients to look at their diets as a whole.

When diagnosed, diabetes patients are encouraged to lose 5-10% of their body weight. "That will make a big difference to their health," Ms Lynch said.

People with Type 2 diabetes feel tired and thirsty and urinate regularly. They're also prone to more frequent infections.